CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

This study investigated cardiovascular disease (CVD) presentations, risk factors, and treatment outcomes among 102 older adults receiving care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional design with structured questionnaires was used. The mean age of respondents was 66.5 years; 52.9% were female and 47.1% male. Hypertension (26.5%) and cardiac structure/function disorders (26.5%) were the most prevalent diagnoses. The most reported CVD presentations were chest pain (73.5%), rapid fatigue (83.3%), irregular heartbeat (100%), weakness/lightheadedness (83.4%), and shortness of breath during activities (79.4%). Awareness of risk factors was high, with over 90% acknowledging hypertension, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, physical inactivity, and stress as contributors to CVD. However, only 73.3% recognized gender differences in disease patterns. Perceptions of gender disparities in treatment were generally low, though 56.6% agreed that differences in care may affect survival, and 90.1% emphasized the need for gender equity in treatment. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant association between gender and CVD presentations (p=0.077) or treatment outcomes (p=0.194), but a significant relationship existed between gender and risk factor awareness (p=0.024). The findings highlight the importance of sustained health education and gender-sensitive strategies to improve CVD management in older adults.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with a rising burden in sub-Saharan Africa driven by rapid urbanization and unhealthy lifestyle changes. In Nigeria, modifiable risk factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption are increasingly prevalent, yet limited data exist on how these behaviors correlate
with physiological risk factors within urban communities. This study aimed to assess behavioral lifestyle practices as correlates of modifiable physiological risk factors for cardiovascular disease among adult residents in the Ekosodin community, Benin City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic sampling technique. The sample used a
Kth interval of 2in selecting households and then adult residents within the community. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and physical measurements, including body mass index (BMI) checking the height and weight, blood pressure (BP), and waist circumference (WC). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patterns of behavior and risk factors, while chi- square and multivariate logistic regression were employed to test associations and hypotheses. Among adult residents in Ekosodin community (Benin City, Nigeria), cardiovascular disease risk significantly correlated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors as 38.6% had hypertension, 57.5% were overweight/obese, 34% were high-risk residents, with risk factors more prevalent among
males (39.7%), those aged over 60 (66.7%), individuals with no formal education (54.2%), those earning less than ₦20,000 monthly (39.4%), and those with a family history of CVD (43.9%).The study highlights the strong correlation between lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in the Ekosodin community. It underscores the urgent need for community- based health promotion interventions that target behavior modification. Public health policies should prioritize education and prevention strategies to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in urban Nigerian settings.

Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. It possesses different biological activity including antioxidant andantimicrobial activities, antibacterial and analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to
investigate the effect of Vernonia amygdalina on cardiovascular disease risk factors in rats exposed to DMH. Adult Wister rats (n= 30) were collected and randomly assigned to groups (8 rats per groups): normal control, DMH only, Silymarin control, extract only, post treatment 1, post treatment 2, Pre- treatment 1, and Pre- treatment 2. Group 1, was supplied with food and water regularly but no Vernonia amygdalina extract, silymarin antibiotic or 1,2 dimethylhydrazine was administered. Group 2, 1,2 dimethylhydrazine was administered at 3millilitres per kilograms of body, alongside with food and water to induce the heart damage. Loss of appetite, fatigue and dizziness was noted after few days of administration. Group 3, the silymarin an antibiotic at 100ml\kg by weight was administered, DMH was then administered every day for 12 days. Concentrations of lipids: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, TAG, High and low-Density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-Density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as Atherogenic index, Atherogenic coefficient, cardiac risk ratio and cardiac Nitric Oxide was measured in plasma